Coronavirus Quarantine Reading List

Since there’s no new comic books to review this week (or in the foreseeable future!? See link for more details), I thought it would be a good idea to list a few of my favorite comic books/graphic novels to recommend to read while we’re all stuck at home waiting-out the COVID-19 Pandemic. If you’re short on money you can always get the digital copies cheap or consider ordering from Multiverse home deliveries! But, if you’re like me and have been collecting comic books for the last 30 years, than you have no shortage of reading material!

“X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills” (1982) Written by Chris Claremont and art by Brent Anderson – Reverend William Stryker starts an anti-mutant movement and kidnaps Professor X! Sound familiar? The X-Men movie sequel “X2: X-Men United” screenwriter David Hayter used elements from this story for the movie.

“The Silver Surfer: Parable” (1988) Written by Stan Lee and art by Moebius – Produced by Marvel Comics’ short lived Epic Comics with renowned work by French artist Moebius.

“The Amazing Spider-Man: Kraven’s Last Hunt (1987) by J.M. DeMatteis and Mike Zeck – Featuring the black-costumed Spider-Man this is the ultimate story of revenge!

“Weapon X” (1994) by Barry Windsor-Smith – Originally published in Marvel Comics Presents this is the incredibly violent and bloody story of Wolverine’s creation by the Weapon X Project.

“Hellboy: Seed of Destruction” (1994) by Mike Mignola and John Byrne – The origin of Hellboy and his first battle with Rasputin! This volume inspired the first movie adaptation although Guillermo Del Toro’s film is great it left out one very important element: The Frog-Men!

“Kingdom Come” (1996) Written by Mark Waid and art by Alex Ross – Incredibly epic story and beautiful artwork! This is Alex Ross at his best!

“Astro City: Life in the Big City” (1995) Written by Kurt Busiek art by Alex Ross and Brent Anderson – This is the first volume of one of my favorite super-hero comics ever! Samaritan, Winged Victory, The Hanged Man and The Confessor are just a few of Astro City’s many great heroes!

“Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists” (1992) Written by Neil Gaiman – Neil Gaiman’s Sandman and the Endless has always been one of my favorite series and out of the original 10 volume run, “Season of Mists” will always be my favorite, Lucifer quits gives Morpheus the key to Hell and also this is the first time we get to meet all of the Endless!

“Watchmen” (1986) Written by Alan Moore and art by Dave Gibbons – Long before the movie, this dark vision of superheroes is still just as relevant and poignant as ever!

“Batman: The Dark Knight Returns” (1986) Written and art by Frank Miller – This changed the face of comics forever and made Frank Miller one of the greats! This dark, futuristic tale of the return of a retired Batman sparked both acclaim and controversy in a world where comics were once considered “just for kids”!

Fantastic Four #48-50 (1966) Marvel Comics, “The Galactus Trilogy” Considered to be one of the most monumental story-arcs in the early history of Marvel Comics. It featured the first appearance of Galactus and The Silver Surfer!

Green Lantern: Secret Origin, Vol. 4 #29-35, DC ComicsWritten by Geoff Johns and penciled by Ivan Reis, the origin of GReen Lantern 2814, Hal Jordan, is told, revealing the mystery of Abin Sur’s death and his obsession with the prophecy of “the Blackest Night.”

Kitty Pryde & Wolverine Mini-Series, (1984-1985) – One of the best stories in Wolverine’s saga came from an unlikely team-up with a 6-issue limited series. Kitty Pryde, a.k.a. Shadowcat, was the X-Men’s youngest member of the 1980’s. Wolverine and Kitty Pryde struck up a deep kinship during that time and in the story while Kitty is trying to rescue her father from the yakuza but is captured by ninjas and the evil Ogun, Wolverine’s former mentor, who brainwashes Kitty and sends her to kill Logan!